Best free spam call blocker apps for iPhone and Android

If your phone rings five times a day with “Potential Spam,” you don’t have to live with it. Here’s the short answer: the best free spam call blocker app for most people is Hiya. It works on iPhone and Android, blocks known spam numbers for $0, and takes about two minutes to set up. Before you install anything, though, turn on the free settings already built into your phone. They stop a lot of calls on their own.

Best free spam call blocker apps at a glance

We compared the most popular call blockers on the App Store and Google Play by what they block for free, what they charge, how they’re rated, and what data they collect. Prices and ratings below are as of October 2026.

Start here: free spam blocking already on your phone

The FTC lists three ways to block unwanted calls on a cell phone: call-blocking apps, the settings built into your phone, and services from your carrier. The built-in settings cost nothing and don’t share your data with another company, so turn them on first.

How to block spam calls on iPhone

Apple’s options live in one place. According to Apple’s guide to managing unknown callers, here’s what to do:

1. Open Settings, tap Apps, then tap Phone.
2. Tap Screen Unknown Callers and pick Ask Reason for Calling (the caller has to say why they’re calling before your phone rings) or Silence (unknown numbers go straight to voicemail).
3. Under Call Filtering, turn on the spam filter so calls your carrier flags as spam are silenced.
4. To block one number, open the Phone app, tap the info button next to the call in Recents, and tap Block Caller.

The catch? With Silence turned on, your doctor’s office or a delivery driver may land in voicemail too. Check your voicemail once a day for the first week.

How to block spam calls on Android

Most Android phones use the Phone by Google app or Samsung’s own Phone app, and both have spam protection built in. On Phone by Google, Google’s Call Screen help page lists these steps:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap More (three dots), then Settings, then Spam and Call Screen.
3. Turn on spam filtering, then tap Call Screen and choose a protection level: Maximum, Medium, or Basic.

On Pixel phones in the U.S., Call Screen can answer suspicious calls for you, ask who’s calling, and hang up if it’s spam. On Samsung Galaxy phones, look in the Phone app under Settings for Caller ID and spam protection. Menu names can vary a little by model.

Check your carrier’s free tool

Verizon (Call Filter), AT&T (ActiveArmor), and T-Mobile (Scam Shield) all offer a free basic spam-blocking service, with paid upgrades for extra caller ID features. For example, AT&T’s ActiveArmor page lists free call controls and a paid plan at $7/month. Open your carrier’s app or call customer service and ask what’s included on your plan before paying for anything.

Hiya: best free spam call blocker for most people

If you only install one app, make it Hiya. The free version identifies spam and scam calls, blocks them, and lets you look up unknown numbers. It’s made by Hiya Inc., a company that also provides spam detection to phone makers and carriers.

• Pros: Real spam blocking on the free tier, simple setup, and no ads listed on Google Play.
• Cons: Full caller names for regular people and faster spam updates need Premium.
• Price: Free. Hiya Premium is $3.99/month, $9.99 per quarter, or $24.99/year on the App Store.
• Rating: 4.5 stars (238K ratings on the App Store) and 3.9 stars (263K reviews on Google Play), as of October 2026.
• Privacy: The App Store label says Hiya collects identifiers that can be used to track you across apps, plus user content for customer support.

Download Hiya from the App Store or Google Play.

Call Control: best for building your own block list

Call Control blocks numbers from a large community spam list and the calls your carrier labels “Spam Likely” or “Scam Likely.” Its strongest feature is the personal block list: you can block a single number or a whole group of similar numbers.

• Pros: Automatic blocking on the free tier and flexible block lists.
• Cons: The Android version shows ads, and some reviewers say it needs to run in the background to work well.
• Price: Free. Premium is $9.99 per quarter or $29.99/year on the App Store.
• Rating: 4.5 stars (6.7K ratings on the App Store) and 3.9 stars (111K reviews on Google Play), as of October 2026.
• Privacy: The App Store label lists contact info and identifiers linked to you.

Download Call Control from the App Store or Google Play.

Truecaller: best caller ID on Android, paid on iPhone

Truecaller has one of the biggest caller ID databases in the world, with more than 1 billion downloads on Google Play. On Android, the free version shows who’s calling, flags spam, and blocks numbers, with ads.

• Pros: Strong caller ID and spam labels on Android, even on the free tier.
• Cons: Ads on the free version, and its App Store privacy label is one of the longest in this list (contact info, coarse location, search history, and more).
• Rating: 4.4 stars (252K ratings on the App Store) and 4.4 stars (29.7M reviews on Google Play), as of October 2026.

Download Truecaller from Google Play or the App Store.

How to set up a spam call blocker app

On Android, the app walks you through it and asks to become your caller ID and spam app. On iPhone, there’s one extra step people often miss:

1. Install the app from the App Store and open it once.
2. Go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification.
3. Turn on the switch next to the app’s name.
4. Leave Screen Unknown Callers on if you like it. The app and the setting work together.

Want to see it explained in plain English? This short video from the FTC covers the main options for stopping unwanted calls on a cell phone.

Add your number to the Do Not Call Registry

The National Do Not Call Registry is free and takes a minute. It tells legitimate telemarketers not to call you. It won’t stop scammers, because they ignore the law anyway, but it cuts down sales calls from real companies.

If you get an illegal robocall, the FTC’s advice on blocking unwanted calls is simple: hang up, don’t call back, and don’t press any number. If you lost money or want to report a scammer, use ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC also posts scam alerts on its official X account.

How we picked

• Blocks spam calls on the free tier, not just after a trial
• Available in the U.S. App Store or Google Play from the real developer
• Rated around 4 stars or higher, with thousands of reviews
• Clear pricing, with no surprise charge after you install it
• A privacy label we read before recommending it

For more apps and settings that keep your phone safe, browse our security and privacy guides and our scam protection tips.

Frequently asked questions

Are spam call blocker apps really free?

Some are. Hiya and Call Control block spam on their free tiers and sell optional upgrades. Truecaller is free on Android with ads, but on iPhone its spam blocking needs a paid plan. Read the App Store or Google Play listing before you tap Install.

Will a call blocker stop every spam call?

No. Scammers change numbers all the time, and even Google says not every spam call can be detected. A blocker plus your phone’s built-in settings will cut most of them, though.

Can I miss important calls?

Yes, if you silence all unknown numbers. Save the numbers of your doctor, pharmacy, and kids’ school in your contacts, and check voicemail daily.

Is it safe to give a call blocker access to my contacts?

Check the App Privacy section on the App Store or Data safety on Google Play first. If an app asks for more than it needs to block calls, skip it. You can see more options in our free apps guides.

Bottom line

• Best for most people: Hiya, free on iPhone and Android.
• Best for custom block lists: Call Control.
• Best for Android caller ID: Truecaller (skip it on iPhone unless you want to pay).
• Best if you don’t want another app: Your phone’s built-in spam settings plus your carrier’s free tool.

Turn on your phone’s spam filter today, add your number to the Do Not Call Registry, and install Hiya if the calls keep coming. That combo costs $0 and takes about five minutes.